The cell body or soma is the location of the nucleus as well as organelles such as smooth and rough endoplasmic reticulum, Golgi apparatus, mitochondria, and other cellular components.

The cell body or soma is the location of the nucleus in a nerve cell. It is also the location of other organelles that include the smooth and rough endoplasmic reticulum, Golgi apparatus, mitochondria, and other cellular components. The cell body connects to the different parts of the neuron, such as dendrites and the axon.

The cellular structure of neurons: Neurons contain organelles common to many other cells, such as a nucleus and mitochondria.

Key Points

• The cell body (soma) is the location of the nucleus, smooth and rough endoplasmic reticulum, Golgi apparatus, mitochondria, and other cellular components; it connects to different parts of the neuron such as dendrites, and the axon.

Key Terms

cell body: a portion of a neuron where the nucleus, endoplasmic reticulum, and ribosomes are located; also known as the soma

neurons: a basic working unit of the brain

dendrite: branched projections of a neuron that conduct the impulses received from other neural cells to the cell body

axon: long slender projection of a nerve cell that conducts nerve impulses away from the cell body to other neurons, muscles, and organs

organelles: small parts of the cell

Endoplasmic reticulum: an organelle important in protein production

Golgi apparatus: involved in cell transport inside the cell

mitochondria: an organelle involved in respiration and generation of ATP